Bulls too much for riders

TOP: Bull rider Tustin Daye of Lupton, Ariz., breaks a 22-0 streak the bulls had over the riders during the Navajo Nation Fair Extreme Native Bull Riding event at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena in Window Rock. Daye posted the only qualified ride and took home a whopping $7,300 for his efforts.

SECOND FROM TOP: Bearron Kee of Kirtland, N.M., stays upright as his sheep leaps forward on Tuesday night in Window Rock . Kee finished the event with a 55-point ride.

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B
ull riding, like some sports, is not immune to shutouts.

On Tuesday night at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena the stocks were getting all of the attention before Lupton, Ariz., cowboy Tustin Daye threw them a curveball during the Navajo Nation Fair Extreme Native Bull Riding.

As the last rider out during the long-go round, Daye accomplished a rare feat by covering his ornery bull, which ended a 22-0 streak the bulls had over the riders.

"I think all of us should have rode up but it's been one of those nights," said Daye, when asked about the dry spell the riders suffered. "They just had our number tonight."

Of course, that all changed when Daye matched the athletic ability of 'Wipe Out' as he earned an 84-point ride.

"I drew a really nice one," he said, while admitting that he had to wait a few moments before he "called out" his bull.

"He was squatting there for a little bit and he was leaning on my leg," Daye said, prior to nodding his head. "When he came out he faked to the left but I jumped back over to my right."

That simply maneuver netted him $3,650 for winning the long go round. It also earned him an invitation to the short round.

Since there were no other qualified rides, the rodeo committee used a lottery system and invited nine of the 22 riders that showed up in Tuesday night's event for the championship round.

Raynell Harvey was one of those bull riders that got his named pulled.

But on his second attempt he suffered the same feat as '7-Up' bucked him off.

Needless to say, the rest of the field had a tough time staying upright for the full eight-seconds.

"Everybody had a fair chance but you have to tip your hat to the bulls," Harvey said. "Even the best guys got on twice and still we couldn't cover them."

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As a Navajo Nation Fair contestant, Harvey said he's hoping for better results as he gets his first bull on Saturday.

"I'll go home and sleep on it," he said. "That's all I can do."

Since there were on qualified rides in the short round, Daye collected another $3,650 for the average and pushed his grand total to a whopping $7,300.

"This boosts your confidence for your next ride," Daye said, who is scheduled to compete in a PRCA rodeo in Salt Lake City today before returning on Saturday for the Navajo Nation Fair.

Junior bull riding

Unlike the fate of the open bull riders, the junior event got three qualified rides with Ryan Kinlacheene winning the event with a 66-point effort.

"I feel pretty good and I'm happy that I got him covered," the 15 year-old Dilcon, Ariz., native said.

Earlier this week, Kinlacheene participated in the junior rodeo and after getting bucked off on Monday the Winslow High freshman said winning the event on Tuesday night was bittersweet.

For his efforts he was awarded $202 and a Kindle Fire tablet.

Cody Rustin ($122) of Gallup came in next with a 63-point ride, finishing ahead of Travis Silversmith ($81), who turned in a 60-point effort.

Wooly riding

In the wooly riding, Kyler Notah earned a 66-point ride and beat out ten other riders who got entered.

This comes after placing second during the junior rodeo on Monday as the Naschitti, N.M. cowboy left the arena smiling ear-to-ear.

According to his mother, Delaine Notah, her son has won two world titles since taking up the sport last May. In addition, Kyler has also clinched three year-end titles in some of the local circuits.

"It was his rookie year last yea and he's been doing good," Delaine said. "He's made a lot of progress and after we put him on his first rodeo in Table Mesa it's been nonstop."